Spring Bristol Cup Race Gets New Date

Bristol Motor Speedway’s spring race will be held in April during the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. (NASCAR Photo)

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Bristol Motor Speedway announced Friday the 2015 Food City 500 weekend will move to April 17-19.

Since 2005, the Food City 500 has been held in March.

“This is a great day in the history of Bristol Motor Speedway thanks to our passionate fans,” said Jerry Caldwell, BMS general manager and executive vice president. “Bruton and Marcus Smith and NASCAR heard the relentless plea for a true spring race date. The fans can look forward to a 2015 landmark celebration April 17-19 in Thunder Valley.”

O. Bruton Smith, the owner of Bristol Motor Speedway and CEO of Speedway Motorsports Inc., also confirmed Friday that the annual Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway will return to its traditional Labor Day weekend date next season. Darlington hasn’t hosted a Labor Day weekend event since 2002.

NASCAR is expected to release the full 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule on Tuesday.